PSG and Lionel Messi have officially confirmed their separation after two seasons in Paris after losing 3-2 to Clermont on Saturday at the Parc des Princes, where Messi was once again booed by Parisian fans.
The departure of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who turns 36 at the end of June, will mark the end of his two-year chapter in Paris, marked by a few moments of brilliance and, above all, two failures in the Champions League.
The divorce seemed inevitable, as PSG fans booed the Argentine due to a lack of results in Europe and a declining performance. After playing his 75th game in the PSG jersey and coming out as a starter, Messi’s departure was made official through a statement headed “Thank you, Leo!”
The Argentine expressed his gratitude to the club, the city of Paris, and its supporters for the two years he has spent there and wished them all the best for the future. Messi will have played 75 games for PSG, scoring 32 goals and providing 35 assists, but he leaves without having achieved the club’s main objective: winning the Champions League.
In its farewell statement, PSG stressed its gratitude to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and highlighted the Trophée des Champions and two Ligue 1 titles Messi won with the club.
The soap opera over Messi’s future dragged on for several months, with the situation changing. Initially, it appeared that a renewal with PSG was on the way, but the two sides drifted apart as the season progressed.
Messi’s unauthorized promotional trip to Saudi Arabia in early May sealed the split and led PSG to suspend the player without pay for a few days. Despite this, the club acknowledged Messi’s contribution to PSG and Ligue 1, wishing him success in the future.
The second half of Messi’s season was marked by painful eliminations and diminished performances. However, his arrival at PSG led to an increase in the club’s revenues with new sponsors and greater global visibility.
Although PSG benefited financially, it now seems to be prioritizing the sporting aspect with a new project focused on Kylian Mbappé and less on glamour.